New York City Raises Subway and Bus Fares to $3
New York City subway and bus fares have been raised to $3, an increase of ten cents since the last price increase in 2023.
With the new increase, public transit fares will have jumped 25 cents in just six years since 2019, when it was $2.75 per ride, per Gothamist.
“For years, the MTA has found creative ways to avoid raising the cost of a single ride to $3 as it faces growing costs and inflation,” the outlet noted. “In 2017, the agency kept the cost of a single ride at $2.75, but increased the price of unlimited passes to make up the difference.”
“Transit officials also kept the fare at $2.75 in 2019 and removed bonuses given to MetroCard users who loaded their fare cards with cash value. Gov. Kathy Hochul suspended a planned fare hike to $2.90 in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic,” it adds.
The recent fare hike was underway long before openly socialist Zohran Mamdani became mayor of New York, with the MTA board proposing and voting to increase the fare by four percent every two years due to rising operating costs.
New York residents have expressed frustration that rates will continue to rise over the years.
“I just know it’s going to add up,” said Mayan Crampton, 23, who commutes between Hoboken and Manhattan. New York Post.
“It’s fucked,” said Phaedra Phaded, who commutes between Chinatown and Manhattan. “I don’t get paid enough for this. The hike is crazy.”
Another commuter, Seana Steele, 41, said the MTA would be better served by adjusting the allocation of funds.
“The MTA is constantly misappropriating funds. Instead of installing new turnstiles, they could actually improve service,” Steele said.
“They are so concerned about people jumping through the turnstile. If [rides] were more affordable and accessible to everyone, it wouldn’t be a problem,” Steele added.
